Rights Holder: Durham County Council
CC License: 
Image use policy
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
THIMBLE
Unique ID: DUR-B1AFC6
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation 
A complete lead palm guard of Post-Medieval to Modern date (AD 1600-1950). The object is a rounded oval, D shape in section. The underside has two small circular depressions near the centre. These depressions are believed to have been used to push a needle through a tough material. The object also has a number of linear incisions across its surface.
Leather workers' palm guards are discussed in an article in Gordon Bailey's 'Detector Finds 2', 1993, pages 64-5. Dating of these artefacts is very difficult; the earliest examples seem to date from the 17th century, although they may have been in use right through to the 20th century (Bailey, 1993, page 64).
The metal is a light cream in colour with a smooth patina.
Similar examples can be seen on the Portable Antiquities Database: Unique ID: SWYOR-0E65DB, Unique ID: PUBLIC-A63656, Unique ID: SUR-C563FD and Unique ID: CORN-DDB2E5
Subsequent actions
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Chronology
Broad period: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod from: Middle
Period from: POST MEDIEVAL
Subperiod to: Late
Period to: MODERN
Date from: Circa AD 1600
Date to: Circa AD 1950
Dimensions and weight
Quantity: 1
Length: 104.09 mm
Width: 58.5 mm
Thickness: 9.57 mm
Weight: 144 g
Personal details
This information is restricted for your access level.
Materials and construction
Spatial metadata
Region: North East (European Region)County or Unitary authority: County Durham (Unitary Authority)
District: County Durham (Unitary Authority)
Spatial coordinates
4 Figure: NZ0950
Four figure Latitude: 54.84473219
Four figure longitude: -1.86137668
1:25K map: NZ0950
1:10K map: NZ05SE
Grid reference source: From finder
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 100 metre square.
References cited
No references cited so far.
Similar objects
Find number: SWYOR-0E65DB
Object type: THIMBLE
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A crudely cast, lead palm guard, probably dating from the 17th-20th century (c. AD 1600 - c. AD 1950). It is a rounded oval, D shape in shape…
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: SWYOR-266005
Object type: THIMBLE
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
A crudely cast, lead palm guard, probably dating from the 17th-20th century (about AD 1600 - AD 1950). It is a rounded oval, D-shaped with a …
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Find number: PUBLIC-A63656
Object type: THIMBLE
Broadperiod: POST MEDIEVAL
Cast, lead palm guard, probably dating from the 17th-20th century (c. AD 1600 - c. AD 1950). It is a rounded oval, with convex and concave …
Workflow: Awaiting validation
Timeline of associated dates
About Us
About our Site
Find us
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC1B 3DG.
T: +44(0) 20 73238618